shh/pat for a back sleeper

[Lauraanne68]

I have a 2 and a 1/2 mo. old son who will fall to sleep in less than five minutes on his back for naps as long as he is swaddled. He hates being on his side though and so when he wakes up way early from a nap, I don't know how to comfort him.

Is it worth losing the easy fall asleep time (he'll scream if we put him on his side for a nap) in order to gain the shh/pat way to comfort?

I usually end up bent over the crib for ten minutes gently holding down his legs so that he'll stop kicking himself a wake, and with my hand blocking out visual stimulation. I hate doing this but it works.

Should I just wait it out until he's old enough for the PU/PD method of calming? Any suggestions?

Laura

[Averysgirl]

I never put my LO on her side, it just didn't seem to work well for us.  I just pat her gently on her chest when I started, but now I just have a firm hand on her chest, and sometimes rub her head while also blocking out visual stimulation.  I have my head near her head and shssh if needed (we don't need the sound too much anymore).

Sometimes, I did have to hold her legs down too, she liked to rub them together, and this stimulated her.  I think the key with shssh/pat is do what works for your LO and you, and keep it consistent.  So if putting him on his side doesn't work, try another method.

[emmas]

I pat the leg - still do at almost 12 months.

[ammie32]

When my lo was that age (now 5 mos) I still swaddled and had him on his back also!  I did as Averysgirl said and would put a hand on the chest.  Sometimes I would use my two fingers and gently mimic a heartbeat on his chest or rub in gentle circles.  I was always on the chest though!  Good luck!

[eireann74]

hand on chest, rub in gentle circles unless she gets irritated w/ that. then its just a firm hand on the chest. patting drove her batty. also, whispering the same phrase began to really work, as well as light shushing.